Tray and cup holder combination

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a tray assembly comprising a holder, at least one tray, at least one securement device, and at least one support element. The holder is designed to fit into the cup holder in an automotive car console and accommodates one beverage container. The trays are joined to and extend outwardly from the holder and accommodate at least one food item. At least one tray is downwardly recessed to better accommodate the food items. The tray assembly is designed so that a plurality of the tray assemblies can be stacked together vertically. The arrangement of the trays is asymmetrical in such a way that a plurality of trays can be placed in closer proximity to a person or object, but do not upset the overall balance of the tray. The tray assembly contains at least one aperture in at least one tray, wherein the aperture acts as a receptacle for at least one container and maintains the containers in the vertical position. The securement devices are joined to the holder and allow the tray assembly to conform to the shape of the automotive cup holder. The support elements provide structural integrity to the tray assembly. The support elements may extend either upwardly or downwardly from the tray assembly.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/876,313 (the '313 application) filed on Jun. 7,2001 and claims priority from the '313 application.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed, in general, to a tray and cupholder combination adapted for insertion into the cup holding recess ofan automotive console.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Food purchased at a drive-through restaurant may be eaten whiledriving. Cup holders are frequently placed in the consoles ofautomobiles. However, there is still no place to put food such as may bepurchased at the drive-through. Disposable food and drink containers areused by drive-through restaurants. A need exists for a disposable cupand tray combination that can hold food items like hamburgers, frenchfries, and a drink.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,523 (the '523 patent) discloses an “ArticleSupport System Having Multiple Utilities” having two-piece construction,one tray, and a number of concentric cylinders of varying diameter. Theweight of the tray and its contents causes the part of the tray designedto fit into the cup holder to bind against the automotive cup holder.(See the '523 patent, FIG. 4) A need exists beyond the '523 patent for acombination cup holder and tray with a simple and inexpensive means ofattachment to an automotive cup holder.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,580 (the '063 patent) discloses a “Food AndBeverage Tray Supportable By A Cupholder,” which provides a combinationof three cup holders and a single tray. The '580 patent is limited tofit one size of cup holder. A need exists beyond the '580 patent for acombination cup holder and tray that can fit different sizes of cupholders and that can support more than one tray.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,063 (the '063 patent) discloses a “ConcessionTray” having a single tray with one-piece construction. A need existsbeyond the '063 patent for a tray and cup holder combination that cansupport a plurality of trays.

[0007] Therefore, a need exists beyond the prior art for a tray and cupholder combination that is inexpensive to manufacture, adaptable to avariety of vehicle console cup holders, and that can support at leastone tray. An invention is needed that can accommodate all of theserequirements in an effective manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention that meets the needs identified above is a tray andcup holder assembly having a main tray, a holder, a plurality of trays,and at least one structural support. The holder consists of an invertedtruncated cone joined to the main tray and closed at the bottom and isadapted for insertion into the cup holder of an automotive console. Atleast one tray has a recess adapted to hold the food items and the traysare arranged asymmetrically. Each tray is generally rectangular in shapeand preferably has rounded corners. At least one tray has at least oneaperture having a size and orientation designed to hold a container suchas a french fry container. A crushable extension is joined to the holderand allows the holder to conform to the shape of the automotive cupholder. Alternatively, the crushable extension may be a pad affixed tothe holder by an adhesive to the outside wall of the cup holder sectionalong the longitudinal axis. A circumferential support, a supplementalsupport, two inner supports, and a disc support provide structuralintegrity to the tray assembly. The novel configuration of the tray andcup holder combination makes it inexpensive to manufacture, adaptable toa variety of vehicle console cup holders, and that can support at leastone tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] he features of the present invention, which are believed to benovel, are set for the in particularity in the description of preferredembodiments. The following drawings reference the many parts of theinvention and are useful in comprehension of the invention as a whole.

[0010]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the Tray andCup Holder Combination.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the preferred embodiment ofTray and Cup Holder Combination showing the crushable extension.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the preferred embodiment of theTray and Cup Holder Combination.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view of the preferred embodimentof the Tray and Cup Holder Combination.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a prospective view of the preferred embodiment of theTray and Cup Holder Combination.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a section view of the preferred embodiment of the Trayand Cup Holder Combination taken along line a-a of FIG. 1 showing therecessed portions of the circumferential structural support, the leftinner support, and the disc support.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a section view of the preferred embodiment of Tray andCup Holder Combination taken along line b-b of FIG. 2 showing thecrushable extension and the holder.

[0017]FIG. 8 is a section view of an alternative embodiment of the Trayand Cup Holder Combination taken along line b-b of FIG. 2 showing a padadhered to the holder instead of the crushable extension.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018]FIG. 1 shows Tray and Cup Holder Combination 50 in its preferredembodiment. Generally, Tray and Cup Holder Combination 50 comprises maintray 100, left tray section 200, right tray section 300, holder 400,circumferential support 500, supplemental support 511, left innersupport 541, and right inner support 551. Main tray 100 is approximatelyperpendicular to the cylindrical axis of the automotive cup holder.Specifically, main tray 100 joins circumferential support interior wall504, left tray front wall 208, left tray exterior wall 204, left trayrear wall 210, left tray interior wall 206, right tray front wall 308,right tray exterior wall 306, right tray rear wall 310, right trayinterior wall 304, left inner support exterior wall 544, left innersupport exterior wall 544, right inner support interior wall 552, rightinner support exterior wall 554, holder wall 402, supplemental supportleft wall 512, supplemental support center wall 514, supplementalsupport right wall 516, first tier left wall 422, first tier left face424, second tier left wall 442, second tier left face 444, third tierleft wall 462, first tier right wall 428, first tier right face 430,second tier right wall 446, second tier right face 448, third tier rightwall 464, and third tier face 466. The preferred embodiment of Tray andCup Holder Combination 50 is made of one piece construction and hasrounded corners.

[0019] Tray and Cup Holder Combination 50 contains left tray section200, which projects downward from main tray 100. Specifically, left traysection 200 is composed of left tray 202 parallel to main tray 100. Lefttray exterior wall 204, left tray interior wall 206, left tray frontwall 208, and left tray rear wall 210 extend downward from andapproximately perpendicular to main tray 100. Left tray 202 is generallyrectangular in shape, but may be formed in a variety of shapesincluding, but not limited to, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal,octagonal, circular and the like.

[0020] Likewise, Tray and Cup Holder Combination 50 contains right traysection 300, which projects downward from main tray 100. Right traysection 300 has right tray 302 parallel to main tray 100. Right trayexterior wall 306, right tray interior wall 304, right tray front wall308, and right tray rear wall 310 extend downward from and approximatelyperpendicular to main tray 100. Right tray 302 contains right trayaperture 312. Right tray aperture 312 is adapted to receive a generallyrectangular container and hold the container in the vertical position.In the preferred embodiment, right tray aperture 312 is adapted toreceive and hold a box of french fries (not shown) in the verticalposition. The box (not shown) is inserted into right tray aperture 312and is contained by the gradually increasing cross-sectional area of thebox contacting right tray aperture 312. Right tray section 300 isgenerally rectangular in shape, but may be any of a variety of shapesincluding, but not limited to, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal,octagonal, and the like.

[0021] As seen in FIG. 3, Tray and Cup Holder Combination 50 alsocontains holder 400, which projects downward from and approximatelyperpendicular to main tray 100. Holder 400 consists of holder wall 402,which extends downward from and approximately perpendicular to main tray100, and holder base 404, which is parallel to main tray 100. Holder 400also contains disc support 580, which extends concentrically upwardsfrom holder base 404. Disc support 580 secures a beverage cup (notshown) in holder 400 so that the beverage cup will not slide alongholder base 404. Holder wall 402 is smaller at the base than at the topin such a manner that it resembles an inverted truncated cone. Holderbase 404 connects holder wall 402 and disc support wall 582, which isconcentric with holder wall 402 and extends upwards from holder base404. Disc support wall 582 joins disc support base 584 and disc supportbase 584 is parallel to main tray 100.

[0022] Crushable extension 410 extends outward from holder wall 402 andfrom holder base 404 to main tray 100. Crushable extension 410 has threetiers of elements as illustrated in FIG. 7. These tiers taper closer toholder wall 402 as they approach the base of holder 400 as illustratedin FIG. 4. First tier left wall 422 and first tier right wall 428 arejoined at an approximate right angle to holder wall 402. First tier leftface 424 is joined at an approximate right angle to first tier left wall422. First tier right face 430 is joined at an approximate right angleto first tier right wall 428. Second tier left wall 442 is joinedapproximately perpendicular to first tier left face 424. Second tierright wall 446 is joined approximately perpendicular to first tier rightface 430. Second tier left face 444 is joined approximatelyperpendicular to second tier left wall 442. Second tier right face 448is joined approximately perpendicular to second tier right wall 446.Third tier left wall 462 is joined approximately perpendicular to secondtier left face 444. Third tier right wall 464 is joined approximatelyperpendicular to second tier right face 448. Third tier face 466 isjoined approximately perpendicular to both third tier left wall 462 andthird tier right wall 464. Third tier apex face 468 projects inwardlyand downwardly from third tier face 466 to holder wall 402. Third tierapex face 468 also joins on its left side with first tier left apex face426 and on its right side with first tier right apex face 432. Firsttier left apex face 426 joins with holder wall 402, first tier left wall422, second tier left face 444, third tier apex face 468 and taperstowards third tier apex face 468. First tier right apex face 432connects with holder wall 402, first tier right wall 428, second tierright face 448, and third tier apex face 468 and tapers toward thirdtier apex face 468.

[0023] Holder 400 is guided into the automobile's cup holder by holderbase 404 and third tier apex face 468. As holder 400 is inserted intothe automobile's cup holder (not shown), third tier face 466 and holderwall 402 will come into contact with the inside walls of the cup holder.When this happens, the continued application of force on the top of Trayand Cup Holder Combination 50 will force crushable extension 410 todeform and assume the shape of the inside wall of the cup holder. Thedeformation of crushable extension 410 provides a secure fit of Tray andCup Holder Combination 50 in to the cup holder of the automobile.

[0024] Tray and Cup Holder Combination 50 also contains a plurality ofsupports that provide structural integrity. Circumferential support 500is joined along the perimeter of Tray and Cup Holder Combination 50 andextends upwardly from main tray 100. As seen in FIG. 6, circumferentialsupport 500 has circumferential support interior wall 504 extendingupwardly from and approximately perpendicular to main tray 100,circumferential support cross-member 506 extending parallel to main tray100, circumferential support exterior wall 508 extending parallel tocircumferential support interior wall 504, and lateral extension 510extending parallel to and coplanar with main tray 100.

[0025] Supplemental support 511 is an extension of circumferentialsupport cross-member 506 near crushable extension 410. Supplementalsupport 511 consists of supplemental support left wall 512, supplementalsupport center wall 514, and supplemental support right wall 516, eachextending upwardly from and approximately perpendicular to main tray100. Supplemental support 511 adds structural integrity to Tray and CupHolder Combination 50.

[0026] Tray and Cup Holder Combination 50 contains left inner support541 and right inner support 551. Left inner support extends upward frommain tray 100 and consists of left inner support interior wall 542 andleft inner support exterior wall 544 extending upwardly from anapproximately parallel to main tray 100, and left inner supportcross-member 550, which is parallel to main tray 100 and joins leftinner support interior wall 542 and left inner support exterior wall544. Left inner support 541 provides structural integrity to Tray andCup Holder Combination 50 when a load is placed upon left tray section200.

[0027] Likewise, right inner support 551 extends upward from main tray100 and consists of right inner support interior wall 552, right innersupport exterior wall 554, both of which extend upwardly from and areapproximately perpendicular to main tray 100, and right inner supportcross-member 560, which is parallel to main tray 100 and joins rightinner support interior wall 552 and right inner support exterior wall554. Right inner support 551 provides structural integrity to Tray andCup Holder Combination 50 when a load is placed upon right tray section300.

[0028] As seen in FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment of Tray and CupHolder Combination 50 replaces crushable extension 410 with at least onepad 600. Pad 600 is attached to holder wall 402 by an adhesive suitablefor securing pad 600 to Tray and Cup Holder Combination 50. Pad 600 maybe made of foam, felt, or another suitable material that is capable ofbeing deformed upon being inserted into the cup holder.

[0029] It is to be understood that while certain forms of the preferredembodiment of Tray and Cup Holder Combination 50 have been describedherein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement ofparts described and shown here except insofar as such forms are includedin the following claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A tray assembly adapted for engagement within anautomotive cup holder cavity comprising: a holder extending downwardlyfrom a tray plane, a holder cavity formed by an exterior wall and abottom, a crushable extension extending outwardly from and of unitaryconstruction with the exterior wall, and a tray extending outwardly inthe tray plane.
 2. The tray assembly of claim 1 wherein the crushableextension engages the automotive cup holder cavity when the holder isinserted therein.
 3. The tray assembly of claim 1 wherein the traycomprises a first tray and a second tray disposed to form an interiorangle less than 180 degrees in the tray plane.
 4. The tray assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the crushable insert forms a part of a tray support andis of unitary construction with the tray.
 5. A tray assembly insert foran automotive cup-holder comprising: a holder of generally circularcross-section configured to be disposed vertically inside the automotivecup-holder and defining a first cavity adapted to receive a cup, a firsttray projecting laterally from the holder and defining a second cavity,a second tray projecting laterally from the holder and defining a thirdcavity, a crushable extension of unitary construction with an exteriorwall of the holder that extends outwardly from the exterior wall of theholder and downwardly from a tray plane to a holder bottom; wherein thefirst tray, the second tray and a top of the holder are in the trayplane and the holder bottom is located beneath the tray plane at asufficient distance to allow insertion of a cup into the holder.
 6. Thetray assembly of claim 4 wherein the first tray and the second tray aredisposed asymmetrically so that the first tray and the second tray canbe placed in proximity to a person or object without impeding theoperation of the tray.
 7. A tray assembly insert for an automotivecup-holder comprising: a holder of generally circular cross-sectionconfigured to be disposed vertically inside the automotive cup-holderand defining a first cavity adapted to receive a cup, a first trayprojecting laterally from the holder and defining a second cavity, asecond tray projecting laterally from the holder and defining a thirdcavity, a crushable extension of unitary construction with and extendingoutwardly from an exterior wall of the holder and also extendingdownwardly from a tray plane to a bottom of the holder, acircumferential support extending downwardly from the holder, the firsttray, and the second tray and disposed at a perimeter of the tray planeformed by the holder, the first tray and the second tray, a left innersupport concentric with a top of the holder cavity, a right innersupport concentric with the top of the holder cavity; wherein the leftinner support and the right inner support extend upwardly from the trayplane and are of unitary construction with the holder, the first trayand the second tray; and wherein the first tray, the second tray and atop of the holder are in the tray plane so that a exterior wall of theholder extends downwardly from the tray plane; wherein the first trayand the second tray form an interior angle less than 180 degrees; andwherein the crushable extension engages the automotive cup holder cavitywhen the holder is inserted therein.